We’re still talking about the BAFTA fiasco, which unfolded two Sundays ago. John Davidson, a man with Tourette’s, was invited to the BAFTAs because I Swear, a British film based on his life, was nominated for multiple BAFTA awards. Davidson later said that he had faith that BAFTA would protect him, and he was happy to be placed forty rows from the stage, because he hoped that if he ticced, no one up front would hear him. Unfortunately, it feels like BAFTA placed some sort of microphone close to Davidson (they deny this), but microphone or not, the Black artists in the room heard Davidson tic the n-word repeatedly before he removed himself from the auditorium. BAFTA host Alan Cumming then offered a bullsh-t apology and the BBC aired one of Davidson’s racist slurs, even though the BBC had a two-hour delay to clean it up. BAFTA org f–ked up from start to finish, and their executives refused to even speak to or comfort Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo and Hannah Beachler during or after the awards show.
Per reporting around this fiasco, only one person associated with BAFTA has resigned in protest. That person is Jonte Richardson, a Black filmmaker who had a seat on a BAFTA emerging-talent panel. No one else has resigned or been fired, and BAFTA is still in ass-covering mode as they try and fail to blame everything on the BBC. Well, on Wednesday, BAFTA’s “inclusion committee” apparently had their first meeting about the catastrophe. Within Deadline’s reporting, they also reveal some new information: apparently, Davidson also said the n-word when Wunmi Mosaku won her BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress.
BAFTA’s inclusion committee is set to meet today for the first time since the arts charity was plunged into crisis over the N-word incident at the film awards last month. The Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee will assemble on Wednesday, and two sources said that BAFTA’s handling of John Davidson’s involuntary racial slurs was on the agenda for the meeting.
People familiar with the matter said there was some disquiet among committee members about the events of February 22, when tourette’s campaigner Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. Their Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku was also subjected to the racial slur when she collected her Supporting Actress prize.
There is concern that the inclusion committee, and BAFTA’s disability advisory group, were not consulted about best practice for Davidson’s attendance. There is a feeling that the incident has not reflected well on the groups’ influence at BAFTA.
One member described the situation as a “mess,” while another expected feelings to be running high when the inclusion committee gathers.
Chaired by Ade Rawcliffe, ITV’s chief people officer, BAFTA’s inclusion committee is made up of industry representatives. The disability advisory group is a sub-committee of the Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee. It is chaired by Sam Tatlow, ITV’s head of diversity.
BAFTA has apologized for the events at the film awards and is currently reviewing the incident. There has been some concern that Davidson did not have the support he required on the night, but the charity did engage an access producer, access coordinator, and a wellbeing coordinator. Davidson, who removed himself from the auditorium after his interruptions, also had additional support from StudioCanal.
Once again, I’m aghast at BAFTA prioritizing John Davidson over Black artists in the room. Two issues can coexist: one, Davidson was exploited and poorly served by BAFTA; two, it is simply catastrophic that racist slurs were screamed in that room, and no one thought to show comfort, concern or care for the Black artists on the receiving end of the slurs. And now we know that a Black British actress, a pregnant woman, also had to hear the racist slur as she won her first BAFTA Film Award. What’s also shocking is that after this Deadline story, there’s been nothing – no follow-up, no statement from BAFTA’s Inclusion committee. I guess no statements need to be made if the plan is to circle the wagons and hope that this controversy just disappears in a few weeks.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images. Screencap courtesy of ABC.
